Cutler stands by claim that Democrats wooed him

Dems say it's a 'distraction'

KENNEBUNKPORT — A York County Coast Star story stirred the political pot in Maine Friday, with independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler standing by his claim that he was wooed by Democrats to be their candidate.

KENNEBUNKPORT — A York County Coast Star story stirred the political pot in Maine Friday, with independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler standing by his claim that he was wooed by Democrats to be their candidate.

During a fundraiser Wednesday night in Kennebunkport, Cutler, was asked to “more forcefully” draw a line between himself and Democratic candidate, Mike Michaud.

Drawing a definitive line, Cutler said after the 2010 election, during a meeting with Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant, he was asked it he would be interested in running as a Democrat, and Cutler recalled Grant offering to “clear the field.”

At the fundraiser, Cutler went on to add he didn’t want to govern as a Democrat as he believed the party was being run by organized labor and he wanted to serve the people of Maine, not special interests.

After the story appeared on Seacoastonline.com Thursday, it was picked up by other media outlets, causing a furor among party leaders on both sides, and resulted in Cutler offering to sign a legal affidavit.

The Maine Democratic party, while admitting Friday that the meeting took place, said the conversation about running as a Democrat and “clearing the field” for Cutler never happened.

In a statement, Grant said, "Cutler's claim is 100 percent false. The party was focused from the very beginning on Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree, because they were most viable candidates to unseat Paul LePage. Eliot Cutler was never in consideration. We knew that he wouldn't be a viable candidate and the polling has proven us right."

Cutler, however, stands by his recollection, said Communications Director Crystal Canney, and said he would be willing to sign an affidavit swearing by the contents of the conversation.

Rachel Irwin, communications director for the state Democratic party, said the he said, she said is “just a silly distraction.”

“This is a way to deflect from his poor showing in the polls,” said Irwin.

"This raises the question, how many candidates did the Democrats court before finally settling on back-bencher congressman Michael Michaud?" said Maine GOP communications director David Sorensen in a release Friday. "Was Michaud their second choice, third choice, sixth choice, or even tenth choice candidate?"

Sorenson said Cutler’s statement calls into question Michaud’s credibility, and makes it clear that party leaders felt Cutler was a good fit for democrats.

"This revelation renders any criticisms the Democrats may levy against Cutler completely illegitimate and without credibility," added Sorensen. "The only problem the Democratic party bosses have with Cutler is that he refused to sell his soul to Big Labor by putting a 'D' after his name; other than that, the Democratic Party clearly believes Cutler is the best candidate for the left-wing vote."